Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has rejected the Europe-related positions in the U.S. government’s new security strategy. “Some of it is unacceptable to us from a European perspective,” Merz said on Tuesday in Mainz, referring to the document from Washington. “That the Americans now want to save democracy in Europe, I see no need for that. If it needed saving, we would manage that on our own.”
Merz warned the United States against increasing isolation and offered Germany’s partnership. “I say in my conversations with the Americans: ‘America first is fine,’ but ‘America alone’ cannot be in your interest.” His message to the United States, he said, is: “You also need partners in the world, and one of those partners can be Europe. And if you can’t work with Europe, then at least make Germany your partner,” Merz said during his inaugural visit to Rhineland-Palatinate.
The U.S. government’s new security strategy accuses Europe of “censorship of freedom of expression and suppression of political opposition” and pledges support for right-wing populist forces. It also calls on Europe to end “mass immigration.” The U.S. strategy confirms his view “that we in Europe, and therefore also in Germany, must become much more independent of the United States in matters of security policy,”
Merz said. Europeans must prepare for the possibility that the U.S. may no longer be available as an ally. He said he is convinced “that we have a common goal: namely the preservation of freedom, security, and peace on our continent.” Merz added, “And I hope that the Americans will follow us on this path.” “If that should be different, we should at least be mentally, and one day also practically, prepared for it,” the Chancellor said. The fact that Germany is preparing for this scenario “can be seen today in our defense spending.”
The Chancellor said that the invitation he extended to U.S. President Donald Trump to visit the birthplace of Trump’s grandfather in Rhineland-Palatinate still stands: “The invitation stands,” Merz said. The visit is planned for next year, but there is no date yet. The U.S. president accepted the invitation “with great enthusiasm” during a meeting at the White House, Merz reported. “We have made a good arrangement,” Merz said regarding the visit plans. “Let’s see whether we can implement it.”
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